Annandale resident and St. Cloud North Junior High School sixth-grade science teacher Joe Brennan is the new Kimball Area High School varsity football coach. Holding circa 10 years coaching experience, Brennan has worked at Big Lake, Dassel/Cokato, Kennedy Community, and St. Cloud Apollo. Joe was raised in, and attended high school at nearby Glencoe, Minn., where he was active in football, wrestling, and track and field. After his 2001 graduation, Brennan went on to St. Cloud State University, majoring in elementary education and playing football for the Huskies. His wife, Nicole, teaches special education at the Annandale Middle School, and they have two young kids, Brooklynn and Zach.
Brennan replaces a very successful coach Jamie Leither, who was with the program 10 years. Jamie will be staying active in the coaching ranks, as he will be working with the Maple Lake coaching staff. ?ÄúI know that coach Leither has done some great things here at Kimball, and I am excited to build on what has been done in the past. With hard work from the players we will take steps to not only build a great football program, but build great men who will be great members of the community.?Äù Brennan says that the ultimate goal of the Kimball football program is to have a program in which the entire student body and community can be proud of, on the football field, in the classroom, and in the community. ?ÄúWe expect to build the program with young men who possess character, self-esteem, self-discipline, and the drive for academic achievement. We will teach good work habits, leadership skills, teamwork, commitment, and strive to reach our highest potential. I expect that all of our players will work like champions in the weight room, in the classroom, on the football field, and in our community.?Äù
The coach expects the team this year to continually improve on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. The Cubs play in the tough Central Minnesota Conference, so emphasizing weekly improvement is vital in order to be competitive. ?ÄúEvery team has goals and aspirations that they are working toward achieving, and we have those at Kimball. We will continue to work toward those all season long.?Äù
Coach Brennan has the right philosophy on the game. ?ÄúOn both sides of the ball we will work to put the best 11 men on the field, and utilize their talents to the best of their abilities. I have run spread ?Äòem style, out style, and a smash-mouth style. I strive to have the potential to have a balanced running and passing game. We will work to be multi-dimensional in our attack and make a defense defend the entire field. We will be a fundamentally sound team, and physical at all positions on offense.?Äù Defensively, coach Brennan believes the team must be sound against the run and pass, and be able to adjust to any sets, motions, or shifts from the opposition. ?ÄúWe will stress the importance of getting 11 hats to the football, tackling, being assignment- and alignment-sharp, and turnovers.?Äù
Currently in the process of hiring his assistants, Joe, when not involved in football, enjoys hanging out with his family, and dropping an occasional line or two.
